The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 55

The newspapers buzzed with headlines about the Hail Empire’s envoys visiting Keltman’s festival.
Citizens, who had been anxious about the tense relations with Keltman, welcomed the news of diplomatic exchange with open arms.

But it wasn’t merely the fact that the Emperor was sending envoys that reassured the people.

What truly eased their worries was that Kyle Chaield, the head of the illustrious Chaield family, would accompany the delegation.

“If even Kyle is involved, it must be safe. The presence of a giant changes everything.”

As I stayed at Chaield Manor, I was reminded once more of the sheer influence and prestige of the Chaield family—something I had briefly forgotten.
When I closed the newspaper after skimming yet another article on the same topic, the hands tidying my hair came to a stop. I glanced at Vanessa, who had been fixing my hair in the mirror.

“Done already? Should we head out now?”
“Oh my, you seem awfully excited to visit the Diane estate,” she teased.

I nodded enthusiastically, as if to say, Of course! Vanessa gave me a puzzled look.

“You’re such an unusual person, my lady.”

“After all this time, you still call me unusual?”
“It’s just strange, that’s all. Living in a place like Chaield Manor and still thinking about other places? If it were me, I’d do everything to never leave.”

“Well… if we’re talking about facilities, Chaield Manor is unbeatable. But visiting my family’s home feels different.”

“I see…”

Normally, Vanessa would argue that facilities mattered most, but this time, she fell silent. It was then I remembered—Vanessa had no family, no home to return to. She was an orphan.

‘Hmm… She’s never told me that herself, so it would be awkward to apologize.’

To board the carriage, I had to leave my room. Vanessa and the other attendants opened the door and adjusted my dress hem in silence.

Just before stepping out of the manor, I turned to Vanessa and casually remarked, “Well, for you, Chaield Manor is the best. After all, it’s the place you’ll always return to.”

“My lady…”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Vanessa pressed her lips together and gave a wistful smile as she held the door open. She was now fully accustomed to bowing and addressing me formally—something that had once been unimaginable.

‘I still haven’t forgotten the shock of our first meeting.’

I twirled the lock of hair Vanessa had accidentally stuck with gum, forcing me to cut it back then, and headed for the carriage.

The carriage, adorned with Chaield’s emblem, was bound for the Diane estate. Leaning on Kyle’s shoulder, I asked, “I was planning to greet my parents, have tea with them, and return. When did you schedule dinner?”

“I thought your parents would want to spend as much time as possible with you.”

“Kyle, thank you for being so considerate.”

I smiled brightly, and Kyle mirrored my expression. Sitting quietly in the corner, Hild the butler suppressed a wry smile as he watched the warm interaction between the future Duke and Duchess.

‘It was so much work convincing Diane to agree to this dinner.’

When Kyle first proposed having dinner at the Diane estate, Hild had delivered the suggestion.

Predictably, the obstinate Count Diane immediately refused.

“Hild, tell His Grace that it wouldn’t be proper for him to visit our humble estate. If the Duke invites us to dinner at Chaield Manor instead, we would be honored to attend.”

Hild had nearly thrown his hands in the air in frustration. As expected of a former Knight Commander, Count Diane was excessively rigid about protocol.

Granted, if Kyle Chaield were just another imperial duke, visiting the lower-ranking Diane estate would have indeed been improper.

‘But he’s her fiancé! He’s the future son-in-law!’

Hild spent days shuttling between the two estates, persuading the Diane Countess by offering to arrange everything for the dinner—chefs, tableware, and all. As for Count Diane, Hild resorted to a mix of appeals and subtle threats.

“Count Diane, do you remember when your father-in-law threw a flowerpot at you, calling you the scoundrel who’d stolen his daughter? You took leave because of the injury, didn’t you?”

“Ahem… Hild, you remember the strangest things.”

“You’re behaving exactly like your father-in-law now, Count. How would His Grace feel if his future father-in-law kept rejecting him?”

Hild even pointed to the unopened pile of Chaield’s gifts gathering dust on the Diane estate’s floor to strengthen his argument. In the end, even the stubborn Count Diane had to yield.

When Kyle heard the news, he regretted not enlisting Hild as a cupid sooner. Hild, however, could only chuckle.

The carriage soon arrived at the Diane estate. Escorted down from the carriage, I stared in awe at the transformed estate.

The moss that once covered the building was gone, revealing a clean, fresh facade. The yard was now lush with vibrant green grass, and Chaield employees bustled around the estate, bringing life to its once-empty grounds.

Kyle, noticing my amazement, smiled in satisfaction.

“My lady, do you like it?”

“It’s almost unbelievable. Even before the loan guarantee fiasco, Diane estate was never this beautiful.”

I chuckled as I led Kyle into the estate. Kyle followed, taking in the sight of his fiancée’s home.

By the time we returned from Keltman, Amel would have gained wealth and honor. With that accomplished, there was only one thing left.

‘Marriage.’

Kyle entered the estate, quietly savoring the thought of the two joyous syllables.

Dinner at the Diane estate was heartwarming from start to finish.

After polishing off the dessert prepared by a first-rate chef, I smiled at my parents, who gazed back at me warmly.

“Oh, Amel, I just remembered. There’s something I wanted to give you—it’s in my room,” said the Diane Countess. I tilted my head curiously and followed her upstairs.

In her room, she handed me a small box resting on her desk.

“Open it. It’s a bracelet I received from a friend during my maiden days. I think it’s best if you have it now.”

“Your friend? Could it be…”

“Yes, it’s the bracelet Countess Burk gave me—the one you mentioned meeting at the tea party. I hope you like it.”

“Mother…”

Countess Diane pulled her daughter into a warm embrace. Her voice trembled as she whispered, “Take care of yourself.”

With a pounding heart, Amel opened the box. Inside was a delicate and simple bracelet, its sole decoration a tiny green gemstone no bigger than a grain of rice.

“Wow… It’s beautiful. Is it an emerald?”

“No, it’s an alchemical mineral,” her mother explained. “A specialty of the Traiha Empire.

They say the gemstone changes color if someone harbors malicious intent toward the wearer. Isn’t that fascinating?”

“Does that mean it’s enchanted?”

Amel examined the bracelet her mother fastened around her wrist, marveling at its unassuming design despite its magical properties.

“There’s a total of five charges. Each time the color changes, it means someone has had sinister thoughts about the wearer. Originally, the stone was colorless, but it turned green while I wore it once.”

Listening to her mother’s careful explanation, Amel tilted her head, a curious expression on her face.

“So… who had sinister thoughts about you,
Mother?”

She met her mother’s eyes with a sly smile, prompting Countess Diane to clear her throat with an exaggerated ahem and clasp Amel’s hands tightly.

“Amel, let us pray. Merciful Lord…”

“Ah, so it was Father. Thank you for the amusing story. Shall we head back to the table now?”

“…”

“You always say you fell for him at first sight, so… is that why I’m so sly?”

Amel teased her mother with ease, looping her arm through hers as they returned to the dining room.

Meanwhile, Count Diane and Kyle were having an excruciatingly awkward conversation.

After exchanging perfunctory inquiries about each other’s well-being, the dialogue fizzled out, leaving Kyle scrambling for a way to keep it going.

“You can do this. You’ve read How to Be Friends with Your Father-in-Law three times…”

Clenching his fists beneath the table, Kyle finally opened his mouth.

“I’m glad the gift suits the decor. It’s a relief to see it displayed so well.”

He gestured toward a painting hanging in the dining room—a gift he’d sent to the Diane estate but had clearly remained wrapped until now.

Seeing it finally on display brought him an unexpected sense of joy.

Count Diane observed the Duke’s effort to make small talk with mild amusement. It was odd seeing the formidable Duke Chaield struggle to impress him.

Though he wasn’t entirely thrilled about the man taking his precious daughter, he couldn’t deny Kyle’s sincerity. It left him with conflicting emotions—a certainty that the Duke would cherish his daughter and a father’s reluctant wish to keep his daughter close.

“I like the little ducklings in the painting. They bring a touch of liveliness to the dining room.”

“They are charming ducklings.”

Kyle, anxious and unaware of how he sounded, blurted the first thing that came to mind.
Given his history—like the time he’d climbed a ladder in the dead of night to sneak into Amel’s room—he didn’t exactly have the best reputation with Count Diane. He desperately wanted to make a good impression this time.

“Let’s move past the whole ‘sneaky son-in-law breaking into the house’ incident.”

Despite Kyle’s best efforts, the conversation stagnated again. Just as the silence grew unbearable, familiar footsteps approached, accompanied by laughter.

Amel and Countess Diane entered the room, radiating cheer, and both men visibly brightened, as if salvation had arrived.

“Finally, a change of topic.”

Eager to steer the conversation, Count Diane’s gaze fell on the bracelet adorning his daughter’s wrist.

“Your Grace, that bracelet contains a fascinating enchantment,” he began warmly.

Kyle pulled out a chair for Amel and leaned closer, listening intently.

“It was crafted by an alchemist from Traiha.”
Kyle took Amel’s hand to examine the bracelet. Despite his best efforts to focus on the item, he couldn’t ignore the amused look in his fiancée’s eyes, which made his bl00d run hot.

Her wrist seemed especially delicate today, pale and slender. He fought the urge to kiss it—or worse, to grab both wrists and hold them tightly.
“Focus. You’re in front of her family.”

By the time Kyle managed to steady himself, the gemstone in the bracelet had changed color. Everyone except Kyle froze.

Unaware that the bracelet had reacted to his improper thoughts, Kyle flashed a bright smile.

“A bracelet that changes color? Fascinating!”
“…”

Count Diane’s face turned as stiff as a statue. What on earth was this man thinking about my daughter?